Annual Review 2014-2015
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Annual Review 2014-2015 Chairman’s Foreword This has been another busy year for the Partnership. I was appointed as the Chairman for the North Wessex Downs AONB in March 2015 and it is a pleasure to introduce this first annual review of my tenure. The challenges of tighter public spending combined with the pressure for development, particularly new housing and power plants within the AONB, have been particularly apparent this year whilst the threats from many smaller incremental developments continue. However, the AONB designation was made to tackle challenges such as these and the work of the team has re-balanced and adjusted accordingly. We objected strongly to the proposal for a 67-hectare Contents: Page solar power station within the AONB at Wroughton. Alongside English Heritage and Natural England, we Chairman’s Foreword 1 submitted a robust case to the Public Inquiry but were The Partnership 3 dismayed to see the application allowed. Similarly, we The Management Plan 2014-2019 5 have continued to object to a proposal to allocate land Landscape and Biodiversity 6 for 1,200 houses at Harwell in the Vale of White Horse. Historic environment 9 It would seem that in the race for new housing the Development 12 need to conserve and enhance even our most Leisure and Tourism 16 outstanding landscapes is all too easily ignored. Raising the profile of the NWD 18 Working in Partnership 22 Grant Funding 26 Financial Summary 28 Page 1 Chairman’s Foreward Contd. The new Management Plan for the North Wessex Downs AONB to 2019 was published. Its aim is to guide the activities of local organisations, in particular all those bodies who have a statutory duty under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to “have regard to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONB”. There has been much to celebrate this year, including establishment of new Partnerships for the Ridgeway National Trail and the Thames Path, publication of a new Transport Strategy for Avebury World Heritage Site and major progress with habitat creation, restoration and management through the three landscape-scale conservation projects active in the North Wessex Downs: the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area, the Stepping Stones and Winning Ways for Wildlife Projects. We began to implement a new communications strategy focussed on raising awareness of the North Wessex Downs, and supported a host of local community projects through our Sustainable Development Fund . During the year the work of the AONB Unit has undergone a fundamental review and a new project- based work programme has been agreed for 2015-2019 to ensure the team stays focused on its core strategy whilst delivering excellent value for money. It is clear that collaborating with partners, both old and new, is the key to efficiency and value; sharing knowledge, building understanding and broadening impact alongside other organisations have proven invaluable in the progress made this year. For several years we have sought to build closer relationships with the private sector and this year we have been pleased to work with National Grid on the Visual Improvement Project for protected landscapes, with Vodafone on an innovative communications project and with volunteers from Nationwide and Vodafone who have helped on conservation projects out on the Marlborough Downs. We are hopeful that we can build even closer collaborations with these organisations and others in the future. We recognise that the work of the Partnership relies heavily on the support we receive from DEFRA, the Council of Partners, the Management Working Group, our local authority partners and from similarly minded organisations and individuals. I would like to thank them all for their support and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. Ted Hiscocks Chairman of the Council of Partners August 2015 Page 2 The Partnership 2014-2015 White Horse at Cherhill photo: Blue Sky images The North Wessex Downs was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1972 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The primary purpose of the designation is “conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area”. The North Wessex Downs AONB Partnership is governed by the Council of Partners which includes representatives of the nine constituent local authorities, the local communities, the farming and rural business community, nature conservation, heritage, landscape, tourism and recreation interests. During the year we said goodbye to our previous Chairman Byron Carron. We are very grateful for his leadership, enthusiasm and support over the previous four years. At the end of the year we welcomed the new chairman Ted Hiscocks along with five new members to the Council of Partners. (see below). The small team of officers at the AONB office in Hungerford is led by Director Henry Oliver. At the end of 2014, Planning Advisor Andrew Lord left to take up a similar post for the Cotswolds Conservation Board nearer his home in Gloucestershire. We were sad to see him go after five years’ hard work and we will miss his strong commitment to the work of the AONB. His replacement is Lucy Page who joined the team in April 2015 from Test Valley District Council. Page 3 The Partnership Contd. The team is guided by the Management Working Group which meets quarterly to develop and test proposals, offer expert advice and review progress. This year we have undertaken a major review of the work programme for the period 2015- 2019. This involved revisiting core functions, clarifying our five year objectives and identification of priority projects. We are grateful to the members of the Management Working Group for their input. The new work programme was approved by the Council of Partners in March 2015. The strategic objectives were identified as follows: To prevent major harm to the landscape (particularly with respect to development) The conservation, enhancement and improved management of key North Wessex Downs landscapes and habitat. Underlying both of these is the need to maintain an active and adequately resourced partnership and supporting unit. The key processes through which we aim to achieve these objectives are as follows: Increased capacity (in financial, human and other resources) to achieve AONB objectives Closer co-operation between members of the AONB Partnership and between partners and the AONB Unit Greater public awareness and appreciation of the North Wessex Downs AONB as a protected landscape and its special qualities Development of better fundraising skills within the AONB Unit to help secure external funding Development of the North Wessex Downs AONB as an asset and destination for responsible tourism, recognised by and supported by local businesses A fuller understanding of the value of the special qualities of the North Wessex Downs landscape as shown by ecosystem goods and services. Priority projects have been identified to support the strategy. Progress for each project will be reviewed regularly with the The North Wessex Downs straddles the boundaries of Management Working Group and reported 9 local authorities. Closer cooperation with our partners to the Council of Partners. in these councils was identified as a key focus in the new work programme. Page 4 Management Plan 2014-2019 The Management Plan for 2014- 2019 was endorsed by the Council of Partners in March 2014 and adopted by all partners later in the year. The Plan was submitted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for natural environment and science Lord de Mauley in December 2014. Lord De Mauley said of the Plan: "AONBs are, and will continue to be, landscapes of change. Management plans such as this are vital in ensuring these changes are for the better. I would like to thank all those who were involved in bringing this plan together and I wish you every success in bringing it to fruition." The North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan presents objectives and policies that partners can apply to help conserve and enhance this nationally important landscape. For the first time, it sets out the Special Qualities of the AONB and identifies some of the goods and services they provide to society. The full Plan is available on our website. Page 5 Landscape and Biodiversity This was the third and final year for two important landscape projects with which we have been closely involved: Winning Ways for Wildlife and Stepping Stones Winning Ways for Wildlife This is a partnership project led by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust that has involved working with local landowners to improve management of woodlands and downland to benefit threatened species. Work has included enhancing and connecting Willow Tit photo: Harry Hogg existing patches of isolated woodland and chalk grassland, carrying out survey work and providing management advice. During the year we secured funding from Hampshire County Council to carry out site management at valuable wildlife sites including Beacon Hill. This covered the management costs to enable scrub clearance, fencing and control of invasive plants to be carried out. Also, as part of the project we ran a course with Flora locale in June 2014 which looked at sourcing and using wildflowers to enhance biodiversity in the arable environment. The final project report, published in March 2015, identified the significant achievements of the three year project: approx.2545 hectares of land influenced through surveys, advice and capital works 29 landowners engaged in active participation Habitat enhancements taken place over two years on 10 sites 30 volunteers taken part in surveys- equating to over 100 man days over the two years 29 sites surveyed for butterflies by volunteers and contractors 3 new Duke of Burgundy breeding sites identified plus a further sighting 54 woodlands surveyed for willow tit 20 new territories for willow tit found (only 4 known previously ) 6 farms surveyed for arable flora 12 events held for landowners, volunteers and members of public 1 parish undertaking parish wildlife survey.